Fiber Optic Cable Pulling Advices

Fiber optic cable (optical fiber) nowadays is deployed everywhere to feed the insatiable bandwidth needs of mission-critical applications. However, fail to pull fiber optic cable properly will eventually lead to serious network problems and disasters. So, to ensure a smooth and efficient fiber optic cable pulling, installers should get fully prepared, while taking various factors into account to avoid damaging the optical fiber. Here, we offer you this guide for pulling fiber optic cable, and advices to get the work done.

Before Pulling Fiber Optic Cable: Some Precautions

Through the whole fiber optic cable installation process, preparation is the very primary phase – which would have a profound impact on the optical fiber pulling task. To get well-prepared, the following factors must be valued.

1. Avoid Fiber Optic Cable Damage

When pulling fiber optic cable, the first step is to measure and cut the material. The glass fiber within the cable is fragile and requires greater care during the process of optical cable pulling. Generally, broken fiber optic cable is difficult to detect, so extra attention should be paid to avoid damaging fiber optic cable.

2. Despooling Optical Fiber Properly

Improper fiber optic cable pulling and despoiling can cause optical cordage failure. One should also avoid cable twist when despooling fiber optic cable to prevent stressing the fibers. Therefore, optical fiber should be reeled off the spool, not spun over the edge of the spool.

3. Fiber Optical Cable Pulling Force

The pulling force must be kept below a designated limit for the specific fiber cable being installed. This is usually 600 pounds for outside plant (OSP) cable and 300 pounds or less for other cables. When using power equipment to pull OSP cable, tension monitoring equipment or breakaway swivels must always be used.

4. Avoid Bending Optical Fiber Too Tightly

Bending fiber optic cable on too tight a radius is a common problem. A minimum bending radius of 10 cable diameters must be maintained over long-term, static conditions. When fiber optic cable is placed under a tensile load, a minimum of 20 cable diameters is recommended.

Procedures for Pulling Fiber Optic Cable

Step One: Inspect the cable run to ensure there are no sharp bends or corners that exceed the minimum bend radius of the fiber cable.

Step Two: In many runs, if the pulling distance is short enough and the pathway straight enough, fiber optic cable can be pulled by hand. However, first make sure the pull does not exceed the tensile-loading limit established by the manufacturer for installation.

Step Three: With some fiber optic cable, such as outside-plant cable, it may be necessary to attach the pulling grip to strength members that surround the fiber cable core as well as the outer jacket. This is done by sliding the grip past the end of the optical fiber and then cutting the cable jacket back to expose the strength members.

Step Four: Use a swivel when pulling to make sure twists in the pull rope are not translated to the fiber optic cable. Also, use a tension meter to monitor the tension being applied to the fiber cable during the pull.

Step Five: After pulling fiber optic cable, cut off approximately 10 feet of cable from the pulling end to remove any portion of the fiber cable that may have been stretched or damaged during installation.

Note: Leave enough fiber optic cable at either end to reach the work-area and closet terminating locations. You are now ready to terminate or connectorize the fiber cable.

Conclusion

Pulling fiber optic cable is a rather important part in optical fiber installation. During the process, installers should avoid fiber cable damage, despoiling it properly, and take pulling force into account. Since the real optical fiber pulling environment could be more complex, the recommended procedures for fiber optic cable pulling here simply provide guideline, hope it can be helpful.

Fiber Optic Cable: Single Mode Patch Cable or Multimode Patch Cable?

Fiber optic cable is ubiquitous nowadays to increase network speed and performance. There exist various flavors of fiber optic cable, among which fiber patch cables (fiber jumper cables) are preferable options for using in data centers. There are two variations of fiber patch cables: single mode patch cable and multimode patch cable. So for practical use, is there any difference between single mode patch cable and its multimode counterparts? How about the application scenarios of each. This article explains it from scratch.

Single Mode Patch Cable Overview

Single mode patch cable (single mode fiber jumper) has a core of 8 to 10 microns. In single mode patch cable, light travels toward the center of the core in a single wavelength – this allows the signal to travel over longer distances with relatively less signal loss. Most single mode patch cable is color-coded yellow. Single mode fiber jumper is the best choice for transmitting data over long distances.

Multimode Patch Cable Overview

Unlike single mode patch cable, multimode patch cable has a core of either 50 or 62.5 microns - the larger core gathers more light compared to single mode fiber patch cables. Although more cost-effective than single mode patch cable, multimode cabling only maintain signal quality over short distances. Multimode patch cable is generally color-coded orange (OM1, OM2) or aqua (OM3, OM4). Multimode patch cables are a good choice for transmitting data and voice signals over shorter distances.

Single Mode Patch Cable vs Multimode Patch Cable: How to Choose?

Should I adopt single mode fiber patch cable or multimode version? It totally depends on your network requirements. Single mode patch cable usually used for connections over large areas, such as college campuses and remote offices. Single mode fiber jumper has a higher bandwidth than multimode cable to deliver up to twice the throughput. Multimode patch cables, however, quite contrary to single mode fiber patch cables, are typically used for data and audio/visual applications in local-area networks, and connections within buildings or remote office in close proximity to one another.

Summery

Fiber optic cable with reliable quality is critical for your network performance. Single mode patch cable and multimode patch cable each has unique pros and cons and different using scenarios. Generally, single mode patch cable is best used for distances exceeding 550 meters while multimode cable is more cost-effective for applications up to 550 meters. Nowadays, there is an increasing tendency to choose single mode fiber patch cable, since many service provides will only do single mode cabling for new installs.

Advantages of Fiber Cable Over Copper Cable

Selecting the optimum solution for your cabling infrastructure is vital. Basically there exist two options: fiber and copper. Since both offer some unique benefits and superior data transmission, it is rather hard to decide which one to use. Generally, your choice should depend on your current network, your future networking needs, and your particular application, including bandwidth, distances, environment, and cost. Although in some circumstance copper may be a better choice, in other situations, however, fiber cable obtains much more advantages.

The very first step before you making the choice is to figure out the distinct properties of fiber optic cable and copper cable. To make it clear, we make a comparison here.

Advantages of Copper Cable

Power over Ethernet (PoE)—This offers you many other devices right through the networking cable itself, including power phones, surveillance cameras, Wireless Access Points (WAPs). It means that you don’t have to schedule an electrician in to run power to your surveillance cameras. Another advantage is the ability to have an emergency power supply that will continue powering mission critical devices even if your electricity goes out.

Less expensive electronics—If you are going to take fiber to the workspace, realize that most PC’s come with copper NIC cards. Optical ones will cost you between $100-200 each.

More flexible—TDM environments are built to run on copper infrastructures. Fiber can be used, however the electronics that make it work are expensive.

Advantages of Fiber Cable

1.Greater Bandwidth

Fiber cable provides far greater bandwidth than copper and has standardized performance up to 10 Gbps. Keep in mind that fiber speeds are dependent on the type of cable used. Single-mode cable offers far greater distance than either 62.5- or 50-micron multimode cable. In addition, fiber optic cable can carry more information with greater fidelity than copper wire. That’s why telephone and CATV companies are converting to fiber.

2. Low Attenuation and Greater Distance

Because the fiber optic signal is made of light, very little signal loss occurs during transmission, and data can move at higher speeds and greater distances. Fiber does not have the 100-meter distance limitation of unshielded twisted pair copper (without a booster). Fiber distances can range from 300 meters to 40 kilometers, depending on the style of cable, wavelength, and network. Fiber cable performs better since fiber signals need less boosting than copper ones do.

3. Better Reliability and Immunity

Fiber provides extremely reliable data transmission. It’s completely immune to many environmental factors that affect copper cable. The core is made of glass, which is an insulator, so no electric current can flow through. It’s immune to electrometric interference (EMI) and crosstalk, impedance problems, and more. You can run fiber cable next to industrial equipment without worry. Fiber is also less susceptible to temperature fluctuations than copper and can be submerged in water.

4.Thinner and Sturdier

Fiber is lightweight, thin, and more durable than copper cable. Meanwhile, fiber optic cable has pulling specifications that are up to 10 times greater than copper cable’s. It’s easier to handle due to its small size, and it takes up much less space in cabling ducts. In addition, fiber is actually easier to test than copper cable.

5.More Flexibility

Media converters make it possible to incorporate fiber into existing networks. The converters extend UTP Ethernet connections over fiber optic cable. Modular patch panel solutions (we’ve discussed before) integrate equipment with 10 Gb, 40 Gb and 100/120 Gb speeds to meet current needs and provide flexibility for future needs. The panels in these solutions accommodate a variety of cassettes for different types of fiber patch cables.

6.Lower Cost

The cost for fiber cable, components, and hardware is decreasing steadily. Installation costs for fiber are higher than copper because of the skill needed for terminations. Although fiber is more expensive than copper in the short run, it may actually be cost-efficient in the long run. Fiber typically costs less to maintain, has much less downtime, and requires less networking hardware. And fiber eliminates the need to re-cable for higher network performance.

7.More Secure

Fiber cable enables safer data transmission. It doesn’t radiate signals and is extremely difficult to tap. Once the cable is tapped, it’s very easy to monitor because the cable leaks light, causing the entire system to fail. If an attempt is made to break the physical security of your fiber system, you’ll know it. Fiber networks also enable you to put all your electronics and hardware in one central location, instead of having wiring closets with equipment throughout the building

Conclusion

We have explained the basic differentiator between fiber and copper, and it is rather clear that fiber cable is quickly rising in popularity, and more favored by new cabling installations and upgrades because of the benefits that come along with it. However, do remember that your cabling decisions should better depend on your very specific circumstances.

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